Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 74: Hard Life

After a long while, Yuanyang returned to Rongqing Hall.

He said that he had just taken Master Cong to Rong Xi Tang to receive a gift, and coincidentally, a message came from outside the second gate saying that the Taoist priest from Xuan Tian Palace in the north of the city came to look for Master Cong.

Grandmother Jia was puzzled, why even the Taoist priest came to see him, how many people did this kid know?
Yuanyang said, "The master said that Xuantian Palace is the Taoist temple of Zhang Tianshi in Shenjing, and Zhang Tianshi and Master Cong Sanye are acquainted, so it is not good to neglect him, so he asked someone to lead the Taoist priest to Rongxi Hall."

Grandmother Jia knew Zhang Tianshi. The last time Jia Cong was robbed by thieves and escaped back home, Zhang Tianshi sent his disciples to visit him.

It so happened that Jia Cong was beaten by his father and could not get out of bed. The Jia family really lost face in front of the guests that day.

It's just that this kid is really evil. He likes reading, can write and compose poetry. It makes sense that he can know a great scholar like Liu Jing'an.

But how could he know Zhang Tianshi, the world's leading Taoist priest, who was a more noble figure than a king, and who had come to visit him several times?

Yuanyang continued, "That Taoist priest is the abbot of Xuantian Palace. He said that he was asked by Tianshi Zhang to rent a courtyard in Xuantian Palace to Master Cong San.

It is said that the place is very close to Qingshan Academy and has a quiet environment. When Zhang Tianshi was young, he studied in Shenjing and had studied there. It was just the right place for Master Cong to live while he was studying in the academy.

Today, the presiding Taoist priest brought the key to the courtyard, as well as a top-quality Shuyun blue silk Taoist robe, two boxes of Eight Treasures Soul-Clearing Taoist incense, and a small purple copper gluttonous beast incense burner.

The Taoist priest also said that the other courtyard was spacious, and that the Third Master could take the maids and servants with him so that they could take care of him on a daily basis, allowing the Third Master to concentrate on his studies instead of having to squeeze into the dormitory.

Upon hearing these words, Wang Xifeng was stunned. The "brilliant plan" she had just given to Baoyu was broken just as she finished speaking. The fate of this Cong brother was really tough.

When Jia's mother heard that Liu Jing'an specially gave Jia Cong a set of the Four Books with his own annotations when he learned that Jia Cong had entered school, she already felt it was a little strange.

Now, after hearing Yuanyang's words, he became even more suspicious. After all, he was very old and had lived in a wealthy family all his life, so he had a deep understanding of the world and human nature.

She was not as naive and pedantic as Jia Zheng, who thought that Jia Cong had some talent and ability and would be favored by great figures like Liu Jing'an and Zhang Tianshi.

You have to know that such a person is knowledgeable and has seen many talented people in his life. He has long been accustomed to it. How could he value his grandson so much for no reason?

Liu Jing'an eagerly found a large academy for the boy to study, and the Taoist master even arranged a place for him to live.

This is not just ordinary respect; it is probably the same way he treats his disciples and nephews in his family.

How on earth did this kid catch the eyes of these people?

But after thinking about it for a long time, Grandmother Jia still had no clue and was too lazy to think about it anymore.

Although he did not like this grandson, he was a member of the Jia family after all. It was never a bad thing for him to be valued by others. Why bother thinking about it?

People like Mrs. Wang who were present were also shocked when they heard what happened in Rong Xi Tang.

At such a young age, Jia Cong has already shown his talent and is a very diligent student. He is also valued by important figures such as Liu Jing'an, Zhang Tianshi, and Prince Jiashun. His future will definitely be good.

His shameful background as the son of a prostitute was mostly covered up by these things and no longer had much impact on him. When he went on to study and achieved success in the future, who would care about these things?

Wang Xifeng was even more frightened by Yuanyang's words.

The "clever plan" he had come up with for Baoyu was still fresh in his mind, but now it felt like he had been slapped in the face.

The people outside even prepared the yard for this boy. He would definitely take those two pretty maids out, so Baoyu couldn't find a chance to get involved with them.

It is said that this kid was born with a strong destiny. He killed a lot of people but he himself was fine. Now it seems to be true.

The old lady exempted him from the filial etiquette yesterday and cut off his way to Rongqing Hall, but today she had no choice but to invite him back to Rongxi Hall.

You should know that Rong Xi Tang is the main hall of Rongguo Mansion, which is one level higher than Rong Qing Tang. The old lady has now lost her face.

Think about what has happened recently. This kid is really evil. You can't find any loopholes if you want to plot against him, and you will end up in trouble.

Just look at the master and mistress in the East Courtyard, and that idiot Wang Shanbao, who has a good ending now. There are so many people praising him outside, it is better not to provoke this kid, otherwise it will be bad luck if he is jinxed.

Baoyu has not yet realized that his attempt to get Wu'er has completely failed, he just thinks these people are boring.

Jia Cong, who was originally a handsome and elegant person like his daughter, was sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire. It was not enough for him to study at home and in the clan school, but he actually had to go to some stupid academy to study.

What was there to be proud of in going to a pedantic and dirty place like a college? Today, these people came to congratulate him by presenting him with the Four Books and a courtyard. It was really out of place.

But it's just a bunch of traitors putting on a show, which is really vulgar.

Baoyu felt that these dirty things in studying and official career were really going to tarnish Rongqing Hall. He became impatient and thought about leaving, but when he saw that Lin Daiyu was still there, he felt reluctant to leave.

……

Jia Cong returned to Qingzhizhai with the admission certificate and the gifts from Liu Jing'an and Zhang Tianshi.

Wu'er and Qingwen were extremely happy when they heard that they could go to Luocang Mountain with Jia Cong.

They had originally inquired about it, and found out that Qingshan Academy was located in Luocang Mountain, which was not close to here. All students who went to Qingshan Academy lived in the academy's dormitory and could only go home a few times a year.

Then they will be left alone in Qingzhizhai. I heard that the Third Master will be away studying for several years. It will be so boring for them to stay in the mansion.

Now there is such a good person who gave a yard for the Third Master to live in, and he can take them with him. Even Juan'er and Si'er can be taken with him. Isn't it the same as being in Qingzhizhai?

There are actually such good things in the world.

Qingwen and her brother had been displaced since she was a child and had rarely had enough to eat. Later, she was bought by Lai Ma, and her life became better. However, she had not left the house for many years.

Liu Wu'er has been a house-born child for several generations and has never been anywhere else except the Jia Mansion.

The two girls are at an age when they are full of yearning for the outside world. How could they not be excited to go out with the Third Master to study and see the world?

The two were so excited that they didn't sleep for half the night. They discussed what to put away in the next few days. They also said that they didn't know what the yard looked like, so they should go there and tidy it up earlier so that the Third Master could live more comfortably when he arrived.

……

Wang Xifeng's courtyard.

Ping'er came in with a large copper basin and handed a warm towel to Fengjie to wash her face.

Within two years of Wang Xifeng marrying Jia Lian, all the maids in Jia Lian's room were sent away by Wang Xifeng for various reasons.

Now only her dowry maid Ping'er is left. Although she is said to have become a concubine's maid, Ping'er only has an empty title, which is used to earn some reputation as a virtuous woman for Fengjie.

Wang Xifeng asked, "Brother Cong will go to the academy to study in a few days. Madam asked us to prepare the gifts for Mr. Liu. Have you prepared them?"

Ping Erh replied, "I just got all the things today: two boxes of top-grade precious tea, a set of top-grade snow-blue tea sets from the official kiln, and two bottles of snow ginseng bowling pills supplied by the Goryeo Kingdom. They came down from the palace at the beginning of the year.

It was also according to Madam’s idea. The things are not expensive, but they are all unique and suitable for giving to an old scholar like Mr. Liu.”

Wang Xifeng said, "You can personally send it there tomorrow and ask him if he needs anything to study at the academy. It's all about connections with the officials and the face of the master."

Ping'er sighed and said, "Brother Cong has encountered so many things these days. Looking at him, he seems to be a promising person."

Wang Xifeng sneered, "Why, our Miss Ping'er has taken a liking to him so soon? This boy is not bad at all. They say he resembles his mother. He has been living well here these days and has become more handsome.

You, a bitch, are jealous of me."

(End of this chapter)